Q&A: Torah Study
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Torah Study
Question
Hello Rabbi, I want to study Torah, and I also really want to have a basic level in Jewish law. What do you think is better: to study Talmud in depth, or to go straight to studying Jewish law? And what do you think about studying Talmud with Steinsaltz or Schottenstein?
Answer
You can study Talmud in depth, and alongside that spend about an hour or half an hour a day going over books of Jewish law.
You can study with auxiliary commentaries. It’s not a problem.
Discussion on Answer
Because then you’re captive to them.
And why not the other way around?
Study Jewish law in depth,
including the Tur and the Beit Yosef,
and that way also come into contact with the Talmud and the medieval authorities (Rishonim).
True, not according to the order of the Talmudic tractates, but yes according to the order of topics in Jewish law.